SkillsUSA is a club at Madison College, and many other colleges, that promotes students working towards a trade or vocation. One of SkillsUSA’s primary objective is for students to be recognized through their participation in state and national competitions. There are general competitions, like Job Interview and Job Skill Demonstrations, and competitions specific to different trades. For example, there are competitions in Welding, Carpentry, Advertising Design, Masonry, Television (Video) Production, Web Design, First Aid/CPR, and many more.

On April 25, 70 of Madison Colleges SkillsUSA members and advisors attended the 45th annual State Leadership and Skills Conference held at the Alliant Energy Center and Expo Hall. Of the 70, 28 of these members stood on the podium to receive a total of 30 medals for their achievements. Of these 28 students, 11 qualified for the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, KY in late June. There, they will participate in their respective national competitions.

The Madison College Gold metalists are: Christopher Otten (Cabinetmaking), Natalie Leighton (Cosmetology), Tim Myers & Steve Yang (Additive Manufacturing), Luke Wickus (Job Skill Demonstration A), Katrina Willis (Job Interview), Katrina Willis (Related Technical Math), Monica Mielke (Pin Design), Keenan White (Diesel Equipment Technology), Alfonso Valadez (Automotive Refinishing Technology), and Alexandra Christensen (Advertising Design).

For those interested in joining SkillsUSA, the meetings happen on the first Thursday of the month during the school year from 11:30am to 12:30pm. The cost of membership in SkillsUSA is $15.00 and, if prospective members are registered before the 1st of October, membership is $7.50. SkillsUSA members can attend leadership training in October for little or no cost if they are involved in fundraising or volunteer work. The cost of participating in a competition at the State Leadership and Skills Conference is $85, which can be reduced to no cost if the registrant gets involved in fundraising and volunteer opportunities offered by the club, such as participation in the Fall and Spring Highway 51 roadside cleanup. The deadline to register is the end of February.

Spring Conference is typically a Tuesday and Wednesday, in the last week of April, at the Alliant Center in Madison. Members receiving 1st place gold medals will be offered a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, to compete at the National Leadership and Skills conference. Hotel, registration and travel are paid for and contestants are given a stipend for meals. The conference is the last full week in June.

Interested in learning more about SkillsUSA? Contact the club advisors: Aaron Stroot, [email protected]; Jeff Molzahn [email protected]